Kalfu
(literally ''
crossroads)'' is a
lwa in
Haitian Vodou
Haitian Vodou () is an African diasporic religions, African diasporic religion that developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries. It arose through a process of syncretism between several traditional religions of West Africa, West and ...
. He is often envisioned as a young man or as a enigmatic spirit; his color is black or red and he favors
rum
Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is often aged in barrels of oak. Rum originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century, but today it is produced i ...
infused with
gunpowder
Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, charcoal (which is mostly carbon), and potassium nitrate, potassium ni ...
. He is often
syncretized with the
Shadow
A shadow is a dark area on a surface where light from a light source is blocked by an object. In contrast, shade occupies the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it. The cross-section of a shadow is a two-dimensio ...
.
As his name indicates, he also controls the crossroads and has the power to grant or deny access to all other
lwa, or spirits, and he allows the "crossing" with an understanding into the nature of chaos and creation, good and misfortune, and injustices.
[Corbett, Bob. "Haiti: Short List of Loa." Haiti: Short List of Loa. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2013]
Webster.edu
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Footnotes
Notes
References
Crossroads mythology
Fortune gods
Liminal gods
Magic gods
Haitian Vodou gods
Lunar gods
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